Definition of 'look'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense looks
, present participle looking
, past tense, past participle looked
1. verb
If you look in a particular direction, you direct your eyes in that direction, especially so that you can see what is there or see what something is like.
Look is also a noun.
2. verb
Look is also a noun.
A quick look at Monday's British newspapers shows that there's plenty of interest
in foreign news. [+ at]
3. verb
If someone, especially an expert, looks at something, they examine it, and then deal with it or say how it should be dealt with.
[Also VERB]Look is also a noun.
4. verb
If you look at someone in a particular way, you look at them with your expression showing what you
are feeling or thinking.
Look is also a noun.
6. verb
If you are looking for something such as the solution to a problem or a new method, you want it and are trying to obtain it or think of it.
The working group will be looking for practical solutions to the problems faced by
doctors. [VERB + for]
7. verb
If you look at a subject, problem, or situation, you think about it or study it, so that you know all about it and can perhaps consider what should be done in relation to it.
He visited Florida a few years ago looking at the potential of the area to stage
a big match. [VERB + at]
Look is also a noun.
8. verb
If you look at a person, situation, or subject from a particular point of view, you judge them or consider them from that point of view.
9. convention
You say look when you want someone to pay attention to you because you are going to say something important.
10. verb
You can use look to draw attention to a particular situation, person, or thing, for example because
you find it very surprising, significant, or annoying.
13.
14.
15.
16.
See look here
17.
See look out
18.
Phrasal verbs:
Phrasal verbs:
See look in
See look into
See look on
See look on
See look out
See look out for
See look over
See look round
See look through
See look to
See look up
See look upon
See look up to
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense looks
, present participle looking
, past tense, past participle looked
1. link verb
You use look when describing the appearance of a person or thing or the impression that they give.
2. singular noun
If someone or something has a particular look, they have a particular appearance or expression.
3. plural noun
4. link verb
You use look when indicating what you think will happen in the future or how a situation seems to you.
Britain looks set to send a major force of over 100 tanks and supporting equipment. [VERB adjective]
The team had stormed into a two-goal lead and looked to be cruising to a third round
place. [VERB to-infinitive]
6.
7.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Learn how to use this word
look
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Word Frequency
look in British English
verb (mainly intr)
1. (often foll by at)
to direct the eyes (towards)
to look at the sea
4. (copula)
to give the impression of being by appearance to the eye or mind; seem
that looks interesting
5.
to face in a particular direction
the house looks north
7. (foll by for)
8. (foll by to)
11. (transitive)
to direct a look at (someone) in a specified way
she looked her rival up and down
13. See look alive
14. See look daggers
15. See look here
16. See look sharp
17. See not look at
18. See not much to look at
noun
19.
the act or an instance of looking
a look of despair
21. (often plural)
appearance to the eye or mind; aspect
the look of innocence
I don't like the looks of this place
sentence connector
▶ USAGE See at like123.
look, I've had enough of this
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English lōcian; related to Middle Dutch læken, Old High German luogen to look out
Word Frequency
look in American English
verb intransitive
1.
to make use of the sense of sight; see
2.
a.
to direct one's eyes in order to see
b.
to direct one's attention mentally upon something
3.
to try to see or find something; search
4.
to appear to be; seem
to look sick
5.
to be facing or turned in a specified direction
verb transitive
6.
to direct one's eyes on
to look someone in the face
7.
to express by one's looks, or appearance
to look one's disgust
8. Rare
to bring to a certain condition by looking
9.
to have an appearance that is suitable for or in accord with
the fat actor looked the part; you don't look your age
10.
to expect
with an infinitive object they look to succeed with our help
noun
11.
the act of looking; glance
interjection
14.
direct your eyes and attention to this; see
15.
pay attention
SIMILAR WORDS: apˈpearance
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME loken < OE locian, akin to OS lōkōn, OHG luogēn (Ger dial. lugen), to spy after, look for
Word Frequency
look in American English
(luk)
intransitive verb
1.
to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see
He looked toward the western horizon and saw the returning planes
3.
to look through the papers
5.
to appear or seem to the eye as specified
to look pale
6.
to appear or seem to the mind
The case looks promising
9.
to face or front
The house looks to the east
transitive verb
10.
to give (someone) a look
He looked me straight in the eye
12.
to appear to be; look like
He looked a perfect fool, coming to the party a day late
14. archaic
to bring, put, etc., by looks
15. See look after
16. See look back
17. See look daggers
18. See look down on
19. See look down one's nose at
20. See look for
21. See look forward to
22. See look in
23. See look into
24. See look on
25. See look out
26. See look out for
27. See look over
28. See look sharp
29. See look to
30. See look up
31. See look up to
noun
SYNONYMS 1. See watch. 6. See seem. 33. gaze, glance. 34. appearance, air.32.
the act of looking
a look of inquiry
33.
a visual search or examination
34.
the way in which a person or thing appears to the eye or to the mind; aspect
He has the look of an honest man
The tablecloth has a cheap look
36. See looks
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; (v.) ME lōk(i)en, OE lōcian; c. MD lœken, akin to dial. G lugen to look out; (n.) ME loke act of looking, glance, countenance, deriv. of the v.]Examples of 'look' in a sentence
look
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Quotations
Look before you leap
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look
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In other languages
look
British English: look
/lʊk/ NOUN
A look is the act of directing your eyes so that you can see something.
- American English: look /ˈlʊk/
- Arabic: نَظْرَةٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: olhar
- Chinese: 瞥
- Croatian: pogled
- Czech: pohled očima
- Danish: blik
- Dutch: blik van de ogen
- European Spanish: mirada
- Finnish: katse
- French: regard
- German: Blick
- Greek: ματιά
- Italian: occhiata
- Japanese: 目つき
- Korean: 보기
- Norwegian: blikk
- Polish: spojrzenie
- European Portuguese: olhar
- Romanian: privire
- Russian: взгляд
- Latin American Spanish: mirada
- Swedish: blick
- Thai: การมอง
- Turkish: bakış
- Ukrainian: погляд
- Vietnamese: cái nhìn
British English: look
/lʊk/ VERB
regard When you look at something, you turn your eyes so that you can see it.
I looked at the clock and yawned.
- American English: look /ˈlʊk/
- Arabic: يَنْظُرُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: olhar
- Chinese: 看
- Croatian: gledati
- Czech: dívat se
- Danish: se
- Dutch: kijken
- European Spanish: mirar
- Finnish: katsoa
- French: regarder
- German: schauen
- Greek: μοιάζω
- Italian: guardare
- Japanese: 見る
- Korean: 보다
- Norwegian: se
- Polish: popatrzeć
- European Portuguese: olhar
- Romanian: a se uita
- Russian: смотреть
- Latin American Spanish: mirar
- Swedish: titta
- Thai: มองดู
- Turkish: bakmak
- Ukrainian: дивитися
- Vietnamese: nhìn
British English: look
/lʊk/ VERB
appear You use look when you describe how a person seems.
The little girl looked sad.
- American English: look /ˈlʊk/
- Arabic: يَبْدُو
- Brazilian Portuguese: parecer
- Chinese: 看起来
- Croatian: izgledati
- Czech: vypadat
- Danish: se ud
- Dutch: lijken
- European Spanish: parecer
- Finnish: näyttää
- French: avoir l'air
- German: aussehen
- Greek: φαίνομαι
- Italian: sembrare
- Japanese: ・・・のように見える
- Korean: ~처럼 보이다
- Norwegian: se
- Polish: wyglądać
- European Portuguese: parecer
- Romanian: a părea
- Russian: выглядеть
- Latin American Spanish: parecer
- Swedish: se ut
- Thai: ดูท่าทาง
- Turkish: görünmek
- Ukrainian: виглядати
- Vietnamese: trông có vẻ
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Definition of look from the Collins English Dictionary
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